A radio frequency identification system for a motor vehicle, in which RFID tags having unique alphanumeric codes are encapsulated and mounted to selected vehicle components, such as the vehicle chassis, body, or engine parts. The RFID tags are operably interconnected with a computer in the motor vehicle. The computer is operably interconnected with a vehicle operating system, such as the ignition system. The alphanumeric codes are read and transmitted to the computer, which compares the read codes with stored alphanumeric codes, and based on the comparison, controls the operation of the vehicle. Removal or destruction of an RFID tag or removal of a component in which an RFID tag is molded will cause the computer to deactivate the vehicle operating system, preventing operation of the vehicle.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A system for controlling the operation of a vehicle having a computer connected to an operating system for operating the vehicle comprising: at least one radio frequency identification tag containing a predetermined permanently assigned alphanumeric code, the code being transmitted upon activation of the radio frequency identification tag; a radio frequency transmitter for activating the radio frequency identification tag and directing the transmission of the code; a radio frequency reader for receiving the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag; and the computer is operably connected to the radio frequency reader for receiving data from the radio frequency reader corresponding to the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag, the computer is further programmed to compare the data from the radio frequency reader with preprogrammed data, and to generate a control signal to the operating system to either enable operation of the vehicle in the event that the read data matches the preprogrammed data, or to disable operation of the vehicle in the event that the read data does not match the preprogrammed data.
2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising a component part of the vehicle wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to the component part.
3. The system of claim 2 and further comprising an encapsulation body encapsulating the radio frequency identification tag.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a plastic material.
5. The system of claim 3 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a resinous material.
6. The system of claim 3 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part through a secure connection.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the radio frequency identification tag and the encapsulation body are integrated so that the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to remove the radio frequency identification tag from the encapsulation body.
9. The system of claim 7 wherein the radio frequency identification tag and the encapsulation body are integrated so that the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to breach the secure connection.
10. A motorized vehicle comprising an operating system for operating the vehicle radio connected to a computer, and further comprising: at least one radio frequency identification tag containing a predetermined permanently assigned alphanumeric code, the code being transmitted upon activation of the radio frequency identification tag; a radio frequency transmitter for activating the radio frequency identification tag and directing the transmission of the code; a radio frequency reader for receiving the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag; and the computer operably connected to the radio frequency reader for receiving data from the radio frequency reader corresponding to the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag, the computer being programmed to compare the data from the radio frequency reader with preprogrammed data, and to generate a control signal to the operating system to either enable operation of the vehicle in the event that the read data matches the preprogrammed data, or to disable operation of the vehicle in the event that the read data does not match the preprogrammed data.
11. The motorized vehicle of claim 10 and further comprising a component part of the vehicle wherein the radio frequency identification tag is attached to the component part.
12. The motorized vehicle of claim 11 and further comprising an encapsulation body encapsulating the radio frequency identification tag.
13. The motorized vehicle of claim 12 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a plastic material.
14. The motorized vehicle of claim 12 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a resinous material.
15. The motorized vehicle of claim 12 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part.
16. The motorized vehicle of claim 15 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part through a secure connection.
17. The motorized vehicle of claim 16 wherein the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to remove the radio frequency identification tag from the encapsulation body.
18. The motorized vehicle of claim 16 wherein the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to breach the secure connection.
19. A method of controlling the operation of a motorized vehicle having an operational system and comprising a radio frequency identification tag attached to a component of the motor vehicle, a transmitter mounted in the vehicle for transmitting a radio frequency signal to the radio frequency identification tag, and a reader mounted in the vehicle for reading a radio frequency signal transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag, the method comprising the steps of: programming the radio frequency identification tag with a unique alphanumeric code; storing the unique alphanumeric code; sending a radio frequency activation signal from the transmitter to the radio frequency identification tag to initiate the operation of the radio frequency identification tag; sending the alphanumeric code by a radio frequency transmission from the radio frequency identification tag to the reader in response to the activation signal; processing the alphanumeric code in the reader; comparing the alphanumeric code received from the reader with the stored alphanumeric code; sending an activation signal to the operational system to enable the operation of the motorized vehicle if the alphanumeric code received from the reader matches the stored alphanumeric code; preventing the operation of the motorized vehicle if the alphanumeric code received from the reader does not match the stored alphanumeric code; and preventing the operation of the motorized vehicle if no alphanumeric code is received from the reader.
20. The method of claim 19 and further comprising the step of encapsulating the radio frequency identification tag in an encapsulation body.
21. The method of claim 20 and further comprising the step of attaching the encapsulation body to the motorized vehicle.
22. The method of claim 21 and further comprising the step of rendering the frequency identification tag inoperable in the event that the encapsulation body is removed from the motorized vehicle.
23. The method of claim 21 and further comprising the step of rendering the frequency identification tag inoperable in the event that the frequency identification tag is removed from the encapsulation body.
24. A system for controlling the operation of a vehicle having a component part and an operating system for operating the vehicle comprising: at least one radio frequency identification tag connected to the component part and containing a predetermined permanently assigned alphanumeric code, the code being transmitted by a radio frequency signal upon activation of the radio frequency identification tag; a radio frequency transmitter for activating the radio frequency identification tag and directing the transmission of the code; a radio frequency reader for receiving the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag; a computer for containing stored data, and operably connected to the radio frequency reader and the vehicle operating system; and a comparator operably connected with the computer for comparing stored data in the computer and the code transmitted from the radio frequency identification tag; wherein the computer is adapted to direct the operating system to either enable operation of the vehicle in the event that the transmitted data does not match the stored data or disable operation of the vehicle in the event that the transmitted data does not match the stored data; and wherein the at least one radio frequency identification tag is encapsulated in an encapsulation body.
25. The system of claim 24 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a plastic material.
26. The system of claim 24 wherein the encapsulation body comprises a resinous material.
27. The system of claim 24 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part.
28. The system of claim 27 wherein the encapsulation body is attached to the component part through a secure connection.
29. The system of claim 28 wherein the radio frequency identification tag and the encapsulation body are integrated so that the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to remove the radio frequency identification tag from the encapsulation body.
30. The system of claim 28 wherein the radio frequency identification tag and the encapsulation body are integrated so that the radio frequency identification tag will be rendered inoperable if an attempt is made to breach the secure connection.
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March 3, 2003
May 24, 2005
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